The Story of English An English Speaking World (Season 1, Episode 1)
TV Episode | Documentary

Primary photo for An English Speaking World

The Story of English

An English Speaking World (Season 1, Episode 1)

TV Episode | Documentary

English is a language spoken by two billion people, perhaps even more. This classic PBS program examines the prevalence of English in the world today and presents a historical overview of its rise. Focusing on the expansion of the British ...See moreEnglish is a language spoken by two billion people, perhaps even more. This classic PBS program examines the prevalence of English in the world today and presents a historical overview of its rise. Focusing on the expansion of the British Empire and the emergence of English-language mass media, the program explains how widespread English usage survived Britain's post-WWII decolonization, particularly in India and Africa. It also examines the impact of American-and especially Californian-English, which has arguably become standard. Interviews with William Safire and Gloria Steinem provide insight into Americanization and the linguistic influence of feminism. See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
18 cast members

Name	Known for
Robert MacNeil Self - Presenter Self - Presenter See fewer	Hamlet (2000)
Randolph Quirk Self - President, British Academy (as Prof. Sir Randolph Quirk) Self - President, British Academy (as Prof. Sir Randolph Quirk) See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
Robert Burchfield Self - Editor, Oxford English Dictionary (as Dr. Robert Burchfield) Self - Editor, Oxford English Dictionary (as Dr. Robert Burchfield) See fewer	The Levin Interviews (1980)
Braj Kachru Self - University of Illinois (as Prof. Braj Kachru) Self - University of Illinois (as Prof. Braj Kachru) See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
P. Lal Self - Writers' Workshop, Calcutta (as Prof. P. Lal) Self - Writers' Workshop, Calcutta (as Prof. P. Lal) See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
Siaka Stevens Self - President, Sierra Leone, 1971-85 Self - President, Sierra Leone, 1971-85 See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
Alistair Cooke Self - Writer and Broadcaster Self - Writer and Broadcaster See fewer	America (1972)
William Safire Self - New York Times Self - New York Times See fewer	In Event of Moon Disaster (2019)
Moon Unit Zappa Self (as Moon Zappa) Self (as Moon Zappa) See fewer	National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
Tom Ammiano Self - Gay Stand-Up Comedian Self - Gay Stand-Up Comedian See fewer	Milk (I) (2008)
Gloria Steinem Self - Editor, Ms Magazine Self - Editor, Ms Magazine See fewer	The First Wives Club (1996)
Harry Marks Self - Graphic Designer Self - Graphic Designer See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
Carl Rosendahl Self - Computer Animator Self - Computer Animator See fewer	The Arrival (1996)
Kuan Yew Lee Self - Prime Minister, Singapore (as Lee Kuan Yew) Self - Prime Minister, Singapore (as Lee Kuan Yew) See fewer	Dateline (1984)
B.K. Yap Self - Shipyard Manager Self - Shipyard Manager See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
Lee Sow Ling Self - English Language Consultant, The Straits Times Self - English Language Consultant, The Straits Times See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
Kate Flower Self - Presenter, 'Follow Me' Self - Presenter, 'Follow Me' See fewer	The Story of English (1986)
H.C. Narang Self - Nehru University, Delhi (as Prof. H.C. Narang) Self - Nehru University, Delhi (as Prof. H.C. Narang) See fewer	The Story of English (1986)